Prostheses (artificial legs and hands) and orthoses (braces and splints) enable people with physical impairments or functional limitations to live healthy, productive, independent, dignified lives and to participate in education, the labour market and social life. In health care regulations, prosthetic and orthotic products are most appropriately defined as health products.- as per World Health Organization.

Access to prosthetics and orthotics services is essential for people with structural or functional limitations not only to achieve mobility and independence but also to enjoy their human rights in the same way as others in the community. The CRPD states that facilitating access to mobility aids, assistive devices and technologies is a State obligation.More than 170 countries have ratified the Convention, obliging them to ensure access for people in need to high-quality affordable prosthetics and orthotics services- as per World Health Organization.

Orthotics and Prosthetics Association of India(OPAI) making its continuous effort to ensure services to the Persons with disabilities through qualified Professionals to provide appropriate technology in the field of Prosthetics and Orthotics from the year 1979.

To provide appropriate and suitable Prosthesis and Orthosis it requires precise and accurate assessment of disorders/diseases or amputation by qualified Prosthetists and Orthotists.

Prosthetists and Orthotists are groups of Rehabilitation professionals qualified with 4½ years Bachelor in Prosthetics and Orthotics(BPO), 2 years Master in Prosthetics & Orthotics and above registered with Rehabilitation Council of India a regulatory authority under Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of S J & E, Govt. of India. As defined under Sec 2… of the Rehabilitation council of India Act,1992, Prosthetists & Orthotists are to design, develop and fabricate Prostheses and Orthoses for the persons with locomotor disabilities(Divyangjan) in Scientific manners.

Like other health care personnel, those in prosthetics and orthotics services comprise professionals, associates and assistants, with two broad job profiles: clinicians (prosthetists and/or orthotists and their associates) and nonclinicians (technicians and support staff). In collaboration with a team of health care, rehabilitation and administrative personnel, they provide prosthetics and orthotics treatment for people with diverse physical impairments or functional limitations. Prosthetics and orthotics services provide comprehensive care with preventive, promotive,assistive and rehabilitative interventions. They usually involve assessment of potential users and a treatment plan, including the design, manufacture, fitting and delivery of prostheses and orthoses as defined by World Health Organization.

In the absence of any Technical knowledge/Professional training there are un-qualified persons/quacks are harming our fellow citizens by providing Prosthesis, Orthosis, and other Mobility Aids like Wheel Chairs, Tricycles, Crutches, Walking Sticks etc. It is quite unfortunate that some hospitals/officers are providing the rehabilitation services to locomoter divyangjan without involving Rehabilitation Professionals (Prosthetists & Orthotists). This practice is very harmful for the health of the persons with disabilities(Divyangjan).

In this regard the Chief Commissioner of Disabilities taken steps to remove quackery from Prosthetic and Orthotic Profession vide his letter No.F.No.11-9-CCD/2016/R4755 dated.25.10.2016 and Rehabilitation Council of India also issued Statutory warning vide their circular No. 7-8/Policy/Registration/RCI-2006 date. 26.03.2015 and 14.05.2019.

OPAI Life members are authorized to coordinate with State Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities, Chief Secretaries of State, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of S J & E, Govt. of India, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, Medical Council of India and District authorities, and other officers or organization working in the field of rehabilitation to the Persons with Locomotor Disabilities(Divyangjan) & take necessary action to provide Rehabilitation Services through qualified RCI registered Rehabilitation Professionals(Prosthetists & Orthotists).

All OPAI members can send the quacks details ether to Chairman quackery Committee or to Secretary-OPAI

Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities in States Government

Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities in Union Territories

CONTACT INFORMATION Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Sarojini House, 6, Bhagwan Dass Road, New Delhi
Dr. Kamlesh Kumar Pandey Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities ccpd@nic.in 23383907, 23386006 (Fax)
Dr. Sanjay Kant Prasad Dy. Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities ccpd@nic.in 23384219, 23386006 (Fax)
Shri Rakesh Kumar Rao Dy. Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities ccpd@nic.in 23384762, 23386006 (Fax)
 Shri Rajeev Malhotra Desk Officer ccpd@nic.in 23386054, 23386154
Shri Manpal Desk Officer ccpd@nic.in 23386054, 23386154